Legal hurdles associated with drones haven't disappeared, but that doesn't stop Amazon from continuing its mission to turn these vehicles into the main elements of a new home delivery network. Through a recent interview, one of the company's vice presidents shared some of the parameters envisioned for the Prime Air system: a minimum of 16 kilometers, packages weighing two kilograms, and deliveries in half an hour, or less.
Drones as a commercial alternative
Drone stories are multiplying across the web, and generally cover three different topics: drones shot down (whether legally or illegally), drones converted into flying weapons, or what brings us here: drones as a commercial alternative. Taking the lead at the first corner was none other than Amazon, presenting its Prime Air service in December 2013. Jeff Bezos' titan and its allies remained very active during the past two years, trying to eliminate the most serious problems of its plan, and of course, battling with the current legislation and the requirements from the US FAA. During that time, a powerful rival like Google joined the competition, whose service should be ready in 2017. Does Amazon already have a specific date? No... but it's getting closer.
Details from the interview
Several details about the service emerged in an interview with Paul Misener, Amazon's vice president of global public policy. First, he highlighted that deliveries will be carried out in half an hour or less, and that the minimum distance for the service should be 16 kilometers. He then added that each drone weighs 25 kilograms, and should deliver packages averaging two kilograms, since the vast majority of items the company sells are below that weight. Misener said that Amazon is working on several prototypes simultaneously, prepared to withstand the demands of the weather in special regions.
Remaining issues
The company still must resolve points like deliveries in buildings, and reduce the noise of drones, something truly critical when the underlying goal is to fill the sky with them. On the other hand, bureaucracy shows no mercy. Misener explained that the US FAA doesn't have too wide a margin of maneuver when it comes to regulating drones belonging to enthusiasts; however, it has full powers that allow it to regulate commercial drones. One of Amazon's proposals is to establish different altitudes depending on what each drone must do, but if there are no clear rules by the time Prime Air is ready, Misener hinted that the United States should not necessarily be the first country to have this service.
